Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
By the time the meeting started to break up, the boss looked like he’d been through a twelve-round fight, and he wasn’t anxious about hearing the referee’s decision. I hated the stress he was under, but it didn’t stop me from admiring how he’d handled himself when his feet were held to the flame. Jagger Langston commanded a room full of men twice his age with twice as much experience, skillfully navigating between listening to their thoughts and opinions, weighing them, and managing to draw his own conclusions.
I’d been excited to spend the day near him for personal reasons, but in the end, I’d learned a valuable lesson in business. A commanding presence wasn’t about having the loudest roar so your team followed in a straight line behind you. It was about earning influence and respect so they followed you willingly.
There had to be forty people in the room. I stalled as many of them cleared out with marching orders, hoping to get a few minutes with Jagger alone. Though when I realized there was a long line of more-important people ahead of me, I figured I should let him work and quietly made my way to the door.
Jagger’s booming voice stopped me before I walked out. “Sutton?”
I turned, and he glanced over at one of the attorneys who had been brought in on retainer. “Excuse me a moment.” Jagger looked back to me. “About the suggestion you made this morning to correct the issue we were discussing…”
It took me a few seconds to extrapolate that my suggestion had been dinner Saturday night and the issue we were discussing was my wanting to sleep with him again. At least that’s what I assumed he meant. “Yes? Have you decided how you’re going to handle things?”
There were still a dozen people in the room left, yet when he locked eyes with me, I felt that spark between us light again.
“Aggressively,” he said. “I’ll be in touch soon with plans.”
CHAPTER 24
* * *
Sutton
I didn’t hear from or see Jagger again for the rest of the week. I was disappointed, but I understood. The office had been abuzz about the lawsuit, so I knew he’d flown down to DC to meet with the lawyers at the DOJ. The man had a lot going on. It wasn’t realistic to think he’d have time for me in the near future.
I was at the gym Saturday morning when my phone ringing interrupted me watching him walk out of a government building last night on today’s news. I didn’t recognize the number but picked up anyway since it was a New York City area code.
“Hello?”
“Are you out of breath?” Jagger’s deep voice sent a shiver up my spine.
“I’m on the Peloton at the gym.” I kept pedaling even as I spoke.
“You might want to save some of your energy for later. You’re going to need it.”
I started to sweat, and it had nothing to do with my exercise. “Is that so?”
“It is indeed.”
“I wasn’t sure we were still on for tonight. I just watched you on the news. You’re a very busy man. I thought you might be too tired.”
“For anything else, I would be. But not for you.”
Warmth filled my chest. “That’s sweet of you to say.”
“Don’t confuse sweet with my need to fuck you senseless, Sutton, or this isn’t going to work.” He paused. “I’m still in DC. I’m meeting with my attorneys again in a little while before I head back. I just called to say I’ll pick you up at seven.”
I was so excited to see him tonight that I managed not to let his callous warning ruin my mood. “Okay.”
“Mr. Langston?” I could hear a woman’s voice in the background. “Mr. Finley is ready to see you.”
His response was muffled, like he’d covered the phone. “Tell him I’ll be there in a minute.” He came back on the line. “I have to go. But stop by the doorman on your way into your building. He has a package for you.”
“A package?”
“Wear it tonight. And no underwear. I’m not going to make it through dinner without touching you.” He paused. “Until later, Ms. Holland…”
The line went dead, and I stopped pedaling, yet my pulse raced faster than ever. It didn’t matter that I’d programmed forty minutes into the bike and only twenty-two had gone by. I was out the door as soon as I could grab my gym bag.
The doorman smiled as I approached my building. He opened the door and gestured for me to walk through. “Good morning, Ms. Holland. I have a package for you.”
Nestor went behind the desk and opened a locked drawer, pulling out a small black bag with a silver logo I didn’t recognize.
“Do you know who delivered it?” I asked.
“I can check the log. Everyone who comes in and out of the building is supposed to sign in, even Uber Eats guys.”